For current class offerings, times, and additional information, visit the Office of the Registrar.
Studio Art Course Descriptions
Course Level: Undergraduate
Art: The Studio Experience 1:1 (3)
This beginning studio course introduces students to painting, drawing, sculpture, and design combined with visual literacy. The course focuses on the interrelationship of hand, eye, and mind to create informed works of art that engage larger critical, formal, or cultural dialogues and relate basic visual language to analytic and creative processes of the artist. Usually offered every term.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Course Level: Undergraduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Undergraduate
The Artist's Perspective: Drawing 1:2 (3)
This introductory drawing course examines observation as a tool of discovery. Students explore traditional and conceptual notions of looking and experiment with different materials, techniques, and practices in order to examine visual perception. The course investigates drawing as a two-dimensional and three-dimensional medium. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite for General Education credit: ARTS-100 or LIT-105 or PERF-110 or PERF-115.
Course Level: Undergraduate
The Artist's Perspective: Painting 1:2 (3)
This introductory painting course utilizes surface, color, and composition as well as technical procedures to introduce students to formal, conceptual, and social issues inherent in painting. These concepts may be explored through the use of models, still life, and landscape. Students learn the language of painting and its context in contemporary art. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite for General Education credit: ARTS-100 or LIT-105 or PERF-110 or PERF-115.
Course Level: Undergraduate
The Artist's Perspective: Sculpture 1:2 (3)
This introductory sculpture course investigates three-dimensional concerns, focusing on observation, process, form, and object as a means of arriving at content. Students are introduced to traditional and contemporary art practices and explore a variety of materials, techniques, and tools. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite for General Education credit: ARTS-100 or LIT-105 or PERF-110 or PERF-115.
Course Level: Undergraduate
The Artist's Perspective: Multimedia (3)
This introductory course investigates aesthetic, technological, and socio-cultural concerns in multimedia through the creation of interactive digital artworks. The course emphasizes the understanding of key paradigms, including media integration, interactivity, hypermedia, and immersion, essential to the construction of narrative specific to the medium. Students learn the language of multimedia and its context in contemporary art.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Painting Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. This is an intermediate and advanced course that encourages experimental approaches to painting through historical and contemporary study. Students creatively explore issues of color, surface, and composition, and are encouraged to begin exploration of individualized concerns that can be addressed through image making. Thematic studies provide opportunity for intensive investigation of ideas. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: ARTS-210 or equivalent.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Sculpture Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. This is an intermediate and advanced course that focuses on the interrelationship between object and environment. Students investigate materials and concepts used in historical, contemporary, and experimental art practices. Course structure focuses on creative problems and solutions. Students explore form, content, and context through individual projects. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: ARTS-205 or ARTS-215.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Ceramics Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. Includes basic principles of working with clay and instruction in both wheel and other methods of making pottery. Usually offered every term.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Drawing Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. This is an intermediate and advanced course in drawing. Students explore selected drawing media, locate a direction of study, and develop a personal visual vocabulary in artwork. Drawing is investigated as an initiating and developing tool for creative thinking. Emphasis is on the process, production, and research needed to produce consistent and creative work. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: ARTS-205 or equivalent.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Relief Printmaking Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. Investigation of the historical techniques utilized in woodcut linocut and surface printing. Students pursue individualized projects while mastering technique. Emphasis on the experimentation, the development of the technique, and the utilization of printmaking as a tool for challenging studio practice and expanding broader critical concerns. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: ARTS-205 or equivalent.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Intaglio Studio (3)
May be repeated for credit. An introduction to basic printmaking processes including monoprint, etching, drypoint, and aquatint. Students investigate the history and process of the intaglio print in relation to individualized projects. Emphasis on the experimentation, the development of the technique, and the utilization of printmaking as a tool for challenging studio practice and expanding broader critical concerns. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: ARTS-205 or equivalent.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Composing with Media (3)
This course introduces compositional techniques for the application of real-time and interactive time-based forms in new media. Strategies and methodologies drawn from music composition, performance art, theater, film, and video are applied to the creation of installation, sculptural, and live performance projects. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: ATEC-101, COMM-331, GDES-220, and MMDD-205, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Independent Reading Course in Art (1-6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Cooperative Education Field Experience (3-9)
Prerequisite: permission of department chair and Cooperative Education office.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Senior Seminar (3)
May be repeated for credit. This studio and criticism course considers the inspirations and practices of contemporary artists and also emphasizes the relationship between art making, culture, and audience. Gallery/museum trips and artist lectures help students contextualize their work in current art practices. Readings, group discussions, and critiques facilitate deeper understanding of the social and conceptual issues surrounding contemporary art. Students pursue an individualized body of studio work that culminates in an exhibition. Prerequisite: ARTS-320, ARTS-340, ARTS-360, or MMDD-300, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Multimedia Seminar (3)
May be repeated for credit. This studio and criticism course considers the inspirations and practices of contemporary media artists and also emphasizes the relationship between art making, culture, and audience. Gallery/museum trips and artist lectures help students contextualize their work in current art practices. Readings, group discussions, and critiques facilitate deeper understanding of the social and conceptual issues surrounding contemporary art. Students pursue an individualized body of studio work that culminates in an exhibition. Prerequisite: ARTS-370 or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Independent Study Project in Art (1-6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Internship (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Undergraduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Advanced Printmaking (3)
May be repeated for credit. Individual projects in printmaking with emphasis on the investigation of contemporary art issues. Students develop a suite of prints or other related investigation in either tandem with their advanced studio work or based on a theme of their choosing in consultation with the instructor. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: ARTS-363 or ARTS-364, admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Advanced Sculpture (3)
May be repeated for credit. Individual projects in sculpture. Students explore formal and critical issues concerning two- or three-dimensional work. Students are encouraged to manifest ideas three-dimensionally with respect to the environment or installation of their work. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: ARTS-340, admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Drawing Practicum I (3)
May be repeated for credit. Drawing as research. This course explores the process of the sketch in developing, proposing, and planning visual works in various media. Students work on synthesizing ideas and representing them formally and conceptually, with emphasis on individual creative expression. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Drawing Practicum I (3)
May be repeated for credit. Drawing as research. This course explores the process of the sketch in developing, proposing, and planning visual works in various media. Students work on synthesizing ideas and representing them formally and conceptually, with emphasis on individual creative expression. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Independent Reading Course in Art (1-6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Graduate
Twentieth Century Art Theory (3)
A contextual analysis of contemporary issues in art as a development of critical thinking throughout the twentieth century. This course presents a theoretical and philosophical consideration of the development of critical, cultural, and social dialogs defining art and practice from the advent of Modernism through its institutionalization and the eventual rise of post-Modernism. Includes figuration, abstraction, formalism, spirituality universalism, the art object, the art original, myth, authorship, allegory, conceptualism, the capitalist impulse, colonialism, authenticity, and the role of audience. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Graduate
Contemporary Art Theory (3)
A theoretical and philosophical consideration of art practices. A detailed analysis of contemporary and cultural studies including post-colonialism, gender, globalization, positioning painting, the state of art and emerging trends in contemporary art. Students evaluate the relationship between artists and the writer/critic. The course introduces students to a broad range of critical thinking and to develop their skills in verbal and textual analysis. Students consider the relationship of their art to contemporary rhetoric. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: admission to M.F.A. program, or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Graduate
Multimedia Seminar (3)
May be repeated for credit. This studio and criticism course considers the inspirations and practices of contemporary media artists and also emphasizes the relationship between art making, culture, and audience. Students pursue an individualized body of studio work that culminates in an exhibition. Usually offered every spring.
Course Level: Graduate
Composing with Media
This course introduces compositional techniques for the application of real-time and interactive time-based forms of experimental new media. Strategies and methodologies drawn from music sampling and sound synthesis, improvisation, live video processing, algorithmic and indeterminate structures, and recombinatory/remix forms are applied to the creation of interactive, installation, sculptural and performance projects. The course emphasis live forms of digital media as a critical area of investigation in the contemporary arts. Usually offered every fall.
Course Level: Graduate
Independent Study Project in Art (1-6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Graduate
Internship (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
Course Level: Graduate
Cooperative Education Field Experience (3-6)
Prerequisite: permission of department chair and Cooperative Education office.
Course Level: Graduate
Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)
Topics vary by section, may be repeated for credit with different topic.
Course Level: Graduate
Criticism of Painting (3)
A theoretical and philosophical consideration of painting. Detailed analysis of artistic works. Lecture and slides. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: admission to graduate program in fine arts or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Graduate
Art Laboratory: Sculpture (3)
May be repeated for credit but not in the same term. Intensive investigation of sculpture with emphasis on experimentation leading to individual style. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: admission to graduate program in fine arts or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Graduate
Art Laboratory: Printmaking (3)
May be repeated for credit but not in the same term. Intensive investigation of printmaking with emphasis on experimentation leading to individual style. Prerequisite: admission to graduate program in fine arts or permission of instructor.
Course Level: Graduate
Course Level: Graduate
Master's Thesis Seminar (3)
Independent work toward students' thesis exhibition and written thesis statements. Consult the department for registration and participation requirements. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite: M.F.A. candidate with permission of department chair. Usually offered every term.
